In August every year, Swedes traditionally celebrate crayfish season. Many throw a crayfish party, inviting friends and family to eat crayfish, pies and drink schnapps.
Svenskt Tenn has created a table setting for this year’s feast, inspired by a crayfish party that the company founder, Estrid Ericson, photographed at her summer house in the 1950s. She often adorned the table with a chequered cloth when she served crayfish. This because of the fact that a patterned textile easily could take over, and not bring out the deep red colour of the crayfish. She combined the tablecloth with Josef Frank's oval seafood platter, simply folded napkins and two kinds of glasses. It was this unique ability to unite and merge different objects that made Estrid Ericson a master at arranging beautiful tables. Cleverly, she balanced simple accessories with bold elements.
For this year's crayfish party, Svenskt Tenn has recreated her classic table setting in a modern way. Schnapps glasses, serving platters and Estrid Ericson’s traditional flask are here combined with Mediterranean influences; lemons, fish and hand-painted ceramics.
Read more about the art of table setting